Cecil John Rhodes..

Well, Rhodes and the BSA, British South African company, had been busy trying to make Matabeleland into their possession. In here, you will be finding information about the Rudd Concession, Matabele Tribe, and Queen Victoria's charter of administration.

British jump in to Rhodesia

Cecil John Rhodes (1853~1902)

Rhodesia is an old name for Zimbabwe, but it originally was named after its founder. Cecil John Rhodes. Rhodes was the head of the British South Africa company, known as BSA, and his primary duties were to seize control of Matabeleland and the land deeper than that to establish Salisbury. Even before Queen Victoria signed the charter for Rhodes and the company, Cecil tried very hard to take whatever they can from Lobengula, the king of Matabele tribe.Why were they so keen on controlling the Native Africans? The English believed that every uncivilized group of people should come under their administration. This depended heavily on their believes because they thought they were the first human race that bettered themselves, and if they controlled other people, than the controlees would also be bettered.

Rhodes wanted no violence, however, he thought the gold minesin Matabeleland will help the British profit and its trading network. Rhodes wanted his men to use their gold mine. He tried many times to persuade Lobengula to accept the request, but everytime he failed. At last, Rhodes thought of something. Do you know what he did to take control of the gold mines in Matabeleland? Cecil John Rhodes decided to use deception and trickery to get what he wanted, so he made up a treaty called Rudd Concession.

Matabeleland

Trickery of rudd concession

Actual Copy of Rudd Concession

Rudd Concession was basically a treaty that gave the English men rights to use the gold mine in Matabeleand.This was also the document Rhodes used against Lobengula to make him sign. But did Lobengula agreed at first? No, even Rudd Concession took many tries to make it valid.Before that, let's just talk about Rudd Concession itself. Rudd Concession was named after Charles Rudd, the business associate with Rhodes. Actually, it was Charles who secured the treaty and ensured signature of Lobengula. Rudd and Rhodes tried many different ways to persuade Lobengula to sign the treaty, buying out Lobengula's many entrusted people to help the persuasion. These people included John Moffat, the son of missonary Robert Maffot who was highly trusted by Lobengula. Also Dr. Leander Starr Jameson, who was regarded as Lobengula's friend for treating him when Lobengula was suffering gout. Rhodes and Rudd assured Lobengula that only ten White men will come and mine, however, this piece of information was not stated so in the actual document. In fact, Rudd Concession stated that English men will do anything necessary to finalize the operation.When Lobengula found out what Rudd Concession really meant, he satisfied his anger by killing all the one who betrayed his trust. He even sent a treaty parallel to Rudd Concession to the German prospector the following year, called the Lippert Concession. But Rhodes somehow managed to buy Lippert out.

queen victoria signs the charter.real work begins..

Because of the deceit Rudd and Rhodes used against Lobengula, Matabele tribe and the Great Britain were never in peaceful relationship. This was one of the main reasons why the First Matabele War took place. However, in 1889, Queen Victoria signed the charter for Rhodes and the BSA to rule, develop, and administer any kind of land in Rhodesia. Do you know what that means? That means white settlers and the English are going to usurp the Native Africans' space that will eventaully open the door for violence. Do you know what this charter did? It basically was a perfect excuse for them to state whenever there is a conflict concerning rights.So if one of the Native Africans questioned the rights of Rhodes and the BSA, they would all be like..Rhodes: Here I am, on the behalf of my beloved country England. I am here to seize administration over you pathetic and uncivilized people under the rule of the Majesty and myself. From now on, I do not want you people to say a word in public. All of your houses will be broken down into sorry bits if you dare to live beyond the very darkest corners of this land.Native Africans: Who granted you rights to control us? Do you not see we, as a people, have our own rights to govern ourselves? How dare you try to corrupt what is rightfully ours?Rhodes: This, [takes out the charter] granted me every rights to rule over you people. You ask why? Simple, because it is signed personally and purely by our glorious Queen Victoria. As long as this document is in my possession and heart, you will do well to stay out of my way. Now begone, I have a vast stretch of land to colonize.

However, the Native Africans were not willing to be pushed aside without a fight..